176 days until final report.

It's been a while since the incident with Bismuth, and not much has happened since. Bismuth's words still haunt Steven. He can't shake this uneasy feeling the gems are hiding something. Something maybe related to Rose.

He sits on a bench on the boardwalk, looking out at the sea. It's a beautiful day, the sun shines, the water sparkles, the cool sea breeze gently brushes Steven's face. Steven sighs. As much as he loves the gems, his family, he wishes he had other friends.

He wishes he could fit in in Ocean Town, but the townspeople hate him, they view him as a freak, a leech, a burden, as he stays with the gems and gets what he wants as was the deal. He doesn't have to pay for food or anything of the like. They view him as a stain, not a person.

Steven decides to go down to the beach, to clear his head. He paces up and down the white, pure sand, the beach is mostly empty today, just himself, and a young lass reading a book who he assumes isn't interetsed in talking to some freak.

The young lass takes off her glasses to clean them, looking up just long enough to see Steven. She notices the unease in his face, and decides to say something.

"Hello," she greets.

Steven is completely caught off guard by this. He isn't sure how to respond. He decides to go in the defensive.

"If you have something to say about my gem," he sighs, "say it. Go on, I know I'm a freak."

"Gem?" The girl asks, "what are you talking about?"

"You're not from Ocean Town are you?" Steven asks.

"Nah," the girl replies, "my parents just had some work here."

"Well then," Steven smiles, she doesn't hate him... yet. He knows he won't be long before she learns he's a freak, but he may as well enjoy this while it lasts.

"My name's Steven," Steven continues, "what's yours?"

"My name's Connie," the girl replies, "you live here?"

"Yeah," Steven replies, "for as long as I can remember."

"Did you see that monster attack a few years ago?" Connie asks, "I heard about it, but I've never heard what it was like from a witness."

"Yeah," Steven replies, "I was there when it happened."

"What was it like?" Connie asks.

"Well," Steven replies, "kinda scary, not gonna lie. I managed to help the gems defeat it."

"You know the gems?" Connie asks, now excited.

Steven realizes his slip up. He sighs, this short lived friendship is already over.

"You hate me too," Steven asks, "don't you? Like the others?"

"Why would I hate you?" Connie asks.

"Cause..." Steven hesiates, he sighs, he lifts his shirt, revealing his gem, "I'm half gem, half human. Everyone here, they call me things like gem kid, freak, you know, stuff like that. Now you know the truth."

"Steven," Connie replies getting up, "I don't hate you. I've always been interested in the gems, curious about them. Can I meet them?"

"Well," Steven replies, "not right now. A corrupted gem, like the one they fought a few years back was spotted near town. They're out trying to find it."

"Oh," Connie replies, "well, what are they like?"

"They're great," Steven replies, "they're like family to me. They did raise me after all."

"What about your parents?" Connie inquires.

"My father is dead, and my mother was... I don't know. I know she was a gem, but I don't know who she was. I don't know where or who she is. She may be dead too."

"I'm sorry," Connie apologizes.

"It's OK," Steven replies, "I have the gems, they're there for me. I'm headed down to the boardwalk, wanna come?"

"Sure," Connie smiles, "sounds fun."

Connie and Steven walk together towards the boardwalk, when, suddenly, they hear screams. The corrupted gem has reached town!

"Gem kid!" one of the citizens yells, "do something you leeching freak!"

Connie glares at the citizen. How can they say some thing so rude and still demand help?

"Get out of here," Steven replies, "I've got this."

The citizen flees, along with anyone else near the boardwalk, the area is like a ghost town, except for Steven, a corrupted gem with a thick white mane-like mass of hair. It moves on all fours, it almost resembles a cross between a horse and a lion. It's eyes, assuming it has any, are hidden under the green and red gem's hair.

"You should go," Steven tells Connie, "it's not safe. Just, let me take care of this, and we'll meet up at the beach."

"What about you?" Connie asks, "I can't just leave you with that thing!"

Steven summons his shield.

"Don't tell the gems," he explains, "but I've got a few tricks up me sleeves."

The corrupted gem lunges at Steven. Steven throws his shield and summons a new one. He rams into the gem, relentless in his attack, but not from malice, from fear. Fear that if he doesn't bubble it quickly, it will be shattered.

Steven slams the gem into a nearby building. It struggles to its feet, and pounces Steven, scratching his face.

Steven uses his shield to push the gem off, and flip it on its back. The impact is enough to poof the gem.

Steven feels his face where he was scratched. He pulls his hand back from the pain when he touches his wound. He bubbles the gem and sends it under his bed as he dispells his shield. He's getting better with his powers, and he knows he. He begins to wonder what else he can do...

"Steven are you OK?" Connie asks, running to him.

"Does it even matter?" Steven asks, "the deed is done. If the gems ask, we found it poofed, OK? Crushed by a statue it destroyed."

"Of course it matters!" Connie exclaims, "why would it not?"

Steven sighs. Connie just doesn't seem to get it. "Follow me," Steven sighs, "I'll show you."

Steven and Connie walk out of the evacuated part of town, and Steven is immediately ridiculed by the townsfolk. He doesn't say anything. He just looks down, and keeps walking.

Connie gets angrier and angrier with each insult she hears sent Steven's yells.

That's when someone says, "why doesn't the freak just leave?"

Connie stops.

"That is enough!" She yells.

The whole town goes silent, all eyes are on Connie. She doesn't care, she can't stand to see someone treated this way.

"You all yell at this kid for being a gem!" Connie continues, "yet him and his friends are the only this town is still on the map! You call him things like freak, gem kid, but did any of you bother to learn his name?"

There's a guilty murmur in the crowd.

Connie becomes more confident as she speaks, she's not stopping now.

"This kid just fought a gem for this town," she continues, "he had nothing but his wits to beat that thing! Look at how his face is scratched! How can you stand there and insult him?"

The crowd is now silent.

"You should all be ashamed!" Connie finishes her speach, "the way you've treated Steven, who just saved this town, is disgusting! Think about what I've said, let it sink in."

The crowd is now dead silent, they can't look Connie or Steven in the eye.

"Listien," Connie explains, "Steven, I kinda gotta go. I'll come see you when I'm back in town. I'll be on the beach. See ya!"

"See ya Connie," Steven smiles.

Steven heads home, and Connie heads the other way. Steven looks back. Connie waves, he smiles and waves back. He begins back home, waiting for the insults to continue, but the townspeople, for the first time, don't insult him, don't glare at him. They let him pass without hate. For the first time, Steven feels accepted...